Bulletin for Sunday, February 9, 2025
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee:
Triodion Begins Today
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The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.
Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.
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Hymns of the Day
Apolytikion of the Feast. Mode 1.
Lady full of grace, rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, for Christ our God, the Sun of righteousness has risen from you and He illumined those in darkness. And you, righteous Elder, be glad in heart, receiving in your embraces the One who liberates our souls and bestows on us the Resurrection.
Resurrectional Apolytikion. Mode pl. 4.
You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and consented to a three-day burial, to free us from the passions. O Lord, our life and resurrection, glory to You!
Kontakion. Mode 1.
You sanctified the womb of the Virgin by Your birth, and by Your presentation You blessed the hands of Symeon, when You came, and You saved us, O Christ our God. Now we pray You give peace to Your world at war, and let love for Your people prevail in all, O only benevolent Lord.
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The reading is from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy.
Timothy, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gospel Reading
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The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
The Lord said this parable, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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"Your Own from Your Own"
The theme for this year's Stewardship is “Your Own from Your Own,” from the Divine Liturgy as we offer back to God that which He has given us. He receives our humble offering of bread and wine and returns them to us as His Body and Blood in Holy Communion.
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We are stewards of the Gospel and the stewards of our parish. We see our church, not as it is, but as it could be. We offer our treasure and ourselves sacrificially, so that, as members of the Body of Christ, we may reach our full potential in Him. | |
| FEBRUARY 2025 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND MEETINGS
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| | February 8th | Philoptochos Meeting at church 10AM | | February 9th | Sunday, of the Publican and the Pharisee
Orthros & Divine Liturgy 9 – 11:15AM (Triodion Begins)
Trisagion for Solon Lichas (36 years) and Peter Coloir (5 Years) | | February 10th | Monday, Saint Haralambos | | February 11th | KALI PAREA, 12:30 PM at church | | February 16th | Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Orthros & Divine Liturgy 9 – 11:15AM
Parish Council Meeting during Coffee Fellowship | | |
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St. John Chrysostom CHURCH PRAYER CIRCLE
Please include the following names of our brothers and sisters in our parish and families, along with others who are in need of our prayers. If you have or know of someone who needs to be included in our regular prayers, please let us know. If you know of someone whose name should be on our list, (a relative, friend or an acquaintance), please feel free to submit their name (s) to Father Andrew.
+Andrew, Katerina, Helen, Deborah, Vie, Sophie, Kathy, Dimitri, Voula, Toula, Helen, Mary, Joel, Connie, Mary, Alfred, William, Maryanne, Elizabeth, Yianni, Pauline DIana, Dionysios, Peter, Pauline, John, Nikki, Judy, Michele, Despina, Mary, Jesse, Nicole, Jill, Nikita,Thea.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you
trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the
power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
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